Changes

2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]</ref>

2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]</ref>

Japan has long suppressed [[Christianity]] and is now paying a hefty price for that, by suffering from a long-term population and economic decline, and thereby allowing [[China]] to replace Japan as [[Asia]]'s largest economy.

Japan has long suppressed [[Christianity]] and is now paying a hefty price for that, by suffering from a long-term population and economic decline, and thereby allowing [[China]] to replace Japan as [[Asia]]'s largest economy. Lacking the benefits of Christianity, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-killer-serial-killer-sentenced-to-death-japan/</ref>

In the August 2009 national elections, the [[Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) suffered a massive defeat as voters blamed it for the poor economy, numerous corruption scandals and Prime Minister [[Taro Aso]]'s uninspiring leadership. The LDP has ruled Japan for nearly all of the last 50 years and is generally conservative, but it lost two-thirds of its seats.  

In the August 2009 national elections, the [[Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) suffered a massive defeat as voters blamed it for the poor economy, numerous corruption scandals and Prime Minister [[Taro Aso]]'s uninspiring leadership. The LDP has ruled Japan for nearly all of the last 50 years and is generally conservative, but it lost two-thirds of its seats.